The Mpumalanga ANC recently took a firm stance against genderbased violence (GBV).

This became evident when the party’s provincial secretary, Muzi Chirwa, joined forces with the Moral Regeneration Organisation (MRO) and faith-based organisations in the province in a bid to create much-needed awareness against this scourge.

During a press conference on Monday at the January Che Masilela House in Mbombela, Chirwa confirmed to the media that they will host district prayer sessions throughout the province on June 10, in conjunction with the MRO, against GBV.

“These sessions are aimed at raising awareness against GBV and femicide, killings and abductions, and other social ills affecting our communities on a daily basis. We would like to invite women and men to these prayer sessions,” said Chirwa.

He also committed that his organisation will lobby for more funding for organisations such as the MRO to be able to continue their operations in the province and execute important programmes that seek rebuild lost morals within communities. He said this particular programme and other awareness campaigns will continuously be repeated until the scourge of GBV is defeated in all its manifestations.

MRO’s provincial chairperson, Rev Micah Nthali, said, “It is important to note that we are not doing this to be popular and not of our own strength, but we want to follow the instruction and guidance of God.

“The reason why we have decided to start everything with prayer is that we have noted there are many marches, and yes, action is good, but we believe action should be accompanied by prayer as well, and vice versa,” said Nthali.

“We want to believe that we will turn the corner, because up to now, people were just marching on their own and not inviting the Creator. We are inviting God to take the lead in whatever we do. This makes a huge difference.”